Method of manufacturing decorated tubing



May 3, 1932. H. D. SCOTT 1,856,888

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING DEGORATED TUBING Filed April 5, 1950 wrmess 8 y.INVENTOR Patented May 3, 1932 UNITED STATES HENRY D. SCOTT, OF WHEELING,WEST VIRGINIA METHOD OF MANUFACTURING DECORA'IED TUBING Applicationfiled April 5, 1930. Serial No. 442,021.

My invention pertains to the art or process of producing ornamentalembossed tubing such as is used, for example, in decorative metal work,standards for floor and table 5 lamps, and the like.

Tubular material is widely used in house furnishings and the like, as,for instance, in the standards of floor lamps, ash trays, etc., and itis generally desired to embellish such lo material by surface designs ofone character or another. Brass or other soft metal is sometimesemployed, as designs can be impressed on metals of this character whilein tubular shape. However, because of the cost of brass and the like, itis customary to use light gage tubing, which does not give sufiicientstrength and is often too thin for screwthreading, which latter is oftendesirable. Where iron or steel is used, it is common to treat the metalby hand in order to get the desired effects, for example, that of anantique hammered finish. In either case, the cost of the ornamentedmaterial is considerable, and even then, due to efforts to reduce thecost,

the resulting product is often not satisfactory.

It is the object of my invention to provide a process by whichornamental tubing, particularly steel tubing, of satisfactory thicknessmay be produced at very little, if any, increase of cost over that ofproducing plain unornamented tubing.

To illustrate my invention, I have shown v in Fig. 1 of the accompanyingdrawings a piece of flat skelp of the general character employed inmaking tube, such skelp having, however, impressed or embossed thereonthe design which is to ornament the finished tube. Fig. 2 shows thefinished ornamental tube,

produced by bending the skelp 0f g- 1, and

welding its seam, by methods well understood in the tube-making art.

In carrying out my invention I apply the W design which is to appear onthe finished tube to the fiat skelp, which is preferably rolled steel.This may be done in numerous ways, as by rolling the design into theskelp when cold. A method which I prefer is to roll in the design bymeans of one of the finishing rolls of the skelp mill as the skelp ismade.

Any desired design may be formed in such finishing roll by turning,milling, hammering or stamping, etching sand-blasting, etc.

The skelp, with the desired design thereon, is then bent into tubularform by methods well known in tube-making, as by drawing it through abell-die, passing it through rolls, or the like. One such method which Ihave found to give satisfactory results is to heat the ornamented skelpto welding temperature and then simultaneously bend and butt-weld itinto a tube by pulling it through a bell-die, and then passing itthrough sizing and straightening rolls if necessary. It would naturallybe anticipated that such pulling of the skelp through a. bell-die forwelding it, and passing it through sizing or straightening rollers, orthe like, would obliterate or spoil the relief design originally appliedto the skelp, but I have found that this is not the case, and that thedesigns are retained and excellent result given.

By the process of my invention I am enabled to produce steel tubinghaving thereon practically any design which may be desired, at a costwhich is little, if any, greater than that of producing plain tubingfrom the same material. In fact, when the design is applied to the skelpin the course of the making of the latter, the increase of cost, overthat of ordinary butt-welded tubing, is only that incidental to theproduction of the special finishing roll, which is negligible when largequantities of tubing, having thereon the same design, are to beproduced.

I claim:

The process of making welded steel tubing having an ornamental design insubstantial relief thereon, comprising forming a design in substantialrelief upon a surface ofa flat piece of skelp, heating the skelp to awelding temperature, and passing the skelp through apparatus forapplying external pressure thereto to bend the skelp into tubular formand weld its abutting edges without substantially modifying theornamental relief design thereon.

In testimony whereof I sign my name.

HENRY D. SCOTT.

